Speaker Bebot Alvarez is not amused by moves of losing vice presidential bet Bongbong Marcos , to politicize what he believed was a major corruption case involving her sister, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.

In an interview with DZMM’s Ted Failon, Alvarez said that the House was well wtihin its rights to detain six Ilocos Norte capitol employees for contempt after they refused to answer questions on Imee’s alaged corruption-laced purchase of P60 million worth of multi-cabs during a committee hearing last May 29.

Alvarez said Imee and her Ilocos Norte team should answer truthfully these serious allegations of corruption rather than diverting the issue by claiming this was just cooked up by a political rival, Majority Leader Rudy Farinas of Ilocos Norte.

Bongbong had earlier stated that the House should heed the Court of Appeals’ decision to release the Ilocos officials from detention. Bongbong criticized what he called as “cruel and unusual” punishment against the Ilocos official and urged the House to file the charges in court to give these officials a chance to air their side in a neutral court.

But Alvarez said the CA should follow the Supreme Court ruling reaffirming Congress’ right to detain any individual for contempt.

Based on the hearing, Alvarez said there was clearly no bidding made for the multi-cabs bought by Imee that were found to be second-hand and unregistered and were acquired without any bidding. He said they were bought for P480,000 each or more than three times the market price similar models of P150,000. Alvarez said that the House also proved during the hearing that there was no bidding.

But what further riled the lawmakers at the hearing was the claim of the six Ilocos that they forgot who received the checks that were worth more than P30 million each. On top pf that, Alvarez also noted that the six Ilocos officials could not produce any documents being demanded by the committee.

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